Homemade Granola Bars

HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS: The Swartzentruber Amish are known for their self-sufficiency and insular ways and that extends to their food. This is a neat recipe for homemade “granola bars” that comes to us from the Amish settlement near Sinking Springs, Ohio.
Tiring days spent outside in the sun-baked fields far from the house can call for a portable snack. Long before grocery stores starting selling prepackaged, processed granola bars, the Amish were making their own—like these. These bars do have processed products in them (like the graham crackers), but those would be bought at the local bulk food store. When you are done making these they can be stored in a sealed container and enjoyed throughout the week.

5 cups quick-cooking oats

4 1/2 cups crisped-rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies

2 cups chocolate chips

1 sleeve graham crackers (8 to 10 crackers), crushed

12 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

2 (10-ounce) packages mini marshmallows

Lightly grease a 10 by 15-inch pan and set aside.Combine the oats, rice cereal, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbs in a large bowl until well blended. Set aside. Melt the butter, peanut butter, oil, honey, and marshmallows in a large saucepan. Stir well until the mixture is evenly melted and smooth, then add to the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan, let cool, then cut into bars.